About Jim

My name is Jim Cochrane, and I created this website for you. If you are looking to find resources to help you learn about data science, this is the right place for you.

I have over 22+ years’ experience in the computer science world, and I have worked on several projects that extracted insight from data, usually via databases and the SQL language. I have also worked on several data analysis tools including early iterations of Microsoft's Power Pivot and Cognos.

Data science is not new. It’s growing in popularity due to the proliferation of data. Companies have way more data than they know what to do with, and the data is hidden without the means to draw it out correctly. This is why the need for quality data scientists has grown.

I am by no means a beginner in the field, but much has changed including the skills data scientists need to prepare for this exciting career. I will keep on top of those changes for you and provide the necessary insight about them.

Shortage of Data Science Workers?

At the time of this writing, the industry is reporting a shortage of people in the data science field. Does this mean you’ll easily find a job?

Unfortunately, if it were that easy, I wouldn’t have needed to create this website. It wouldn’t be worth it. You wouldn’t have any reason to visit because you would take a few courses and be on your way to a high-paying job.

There are many job openings. But, companies are still coming to grips with what it means to hire a data scientist. Although the concept isn’t new, the duties are taking shape into what we see today.

How I Can Help

I will be keeping on top of the latest developments in data science. I will evaluate and review programs that are geared toward helping data science practitioners or those who want to become practitioners.

Although you’ll see offers on this website, it won’t be the primary purpose of the site. I will vet the offers that I include, and they will be related to data science in some way. If for some reason they are not, I’ll give a good explanation. If I can’t come up with a good explanation, they will never make the light of day on this website.

What Are Your Thoughts/Concerns?

I would also love to hear from you. If you are looking for something specific that you feel will help, reach out to me and I’ll see what I can do. I can’t promise to address every request, but I’ll try my best.

To start, I have included an excellent resource for people looking to get their start in data science. The resource is free to sign up, and the basic courses are offered for free. The first sections of many courses on this resource are free. You can get a good feel of how the course will be taught and whether it’s right for you.

I have also set up a resource where you can find datasets for your project. I try to include only ones that are valid and authoritative, but some will fall through the cracks. I’ll weed those out when I find them, or when my readers let me know about a link that isn’t up to par, etc.

Developments in this field are moving fast, so I will report on the most important aspects as I find them. I look forward to serving you and giving you the resources you need to become a successful data science practitioner.